Donaldson to Represent the ACHP at President's Chávez National Memorial Announcement

ACHP Chairman Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIA, will represent the agency at the October 8 presidential announcement of the César E. Chávez National Monument in Keene, California. President Barack Obama and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will be on hand to celebrate this newest national memorial and showcase the American Latino Heritage Initiative, of which the ACHP has been a contributor.

"I am honored to be part of this historic occasion," Donaldson said. "While the nation has made a wonderful start in preserving and sharing its heritage through the physical places where our history took place, the stories of many of the cultures that were woven into the American fabric have not received sufficient attention. This new National Monument helps us all to better understand our rich, diverse heritage."

Donaldson noted that the ACHP's Building a More Inclusive Preservation Program initiative aims for better representation of culturally linked historic properties among the nation's inventory of officially recognized sites, and the newest National Monument helps achieve this agency goal.

The White House announced Oct. 1, 2012, that President Obama would announce the creation of the country's newest National Monument. For more information please reference: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/10/01/president-obama-establish-c-sar-e-ch-vez-national-monument.

National History Teacher of the Year Finalists Announced

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has announced its five finalists for the National History Teacher of the Year award, partnering with Preserve America and HISTORY. Read more

Presenters and Attendees Wanted for National Preservation Conference, Spokane, Washington

An affiliate session for Preserve America Communities as well as other historic communities and their partners will be held in Spokane, Washington on October 31, 2012 at the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Annual National Preservation Conference. The conference theme this year is “Beyond Boundaries,” and the emphasis is on preservation’s role in cities, towns, and rural communities. Read More.

First Lady Designates New Communities and Steward

First Lady Michelle Obama sent letters of recognition to three Newark, New Jersey, entities this week giving them Preserve America honors.
Read about the new Communities: James Street Commons Historic District, and the Ironbound community. Read about Branch Brook Park Alliance as the newest Steward.

ACHP Chairman’s Award Presented

Today at the ACHP’s summer business meeting Chairman Wayne Donaldson awarded the Great Urban Park initiative of New York Harbor the chairman’s award. Read more.

ACHP Chairman Contributes to White House Blog

ACHP Chairman Wayne Donaldson wrote an informative piece on the Traditional Cultural Landscapes Plan and how the President's initiatives to engage Native Americans are an integral part of historic preservation decisions. Read the blog entitled: Native American Traditional Cultural Landscapes Action Plan - Better Decisions for Historic Properties here.

National Trust Most Endangered List Highlights Importance of Section 106

Every year the National Trust for Historic Preservation highlights the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, historic properties that the organization wants to bring to public attention out of concern that their existence or historic integrity are threatened. At least five of the places on the 2012 list involve sites where Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act is a key factor in the property’s fate. This is an indication of how important Section 106 is to preservation of the nation’s important historic places. Read more.

Preserve America E-Newsletter Available

Read the latest e-newsletter with stories of new designations and activities Preserve America Communities can host for heritage tourism, and much more.

ACHP Business Meeting Offers Awards and Recognition

The ACHP met May 10 for its spring business meeting. Read more about the meeting and the awards presented.

First Lady Designates Five New Communities

First Lady Michelle Obama sent letters of designation to five new Preserve America Communities this week. Read more.  

 

Section 106 Success Stories

The Section 106 process can breed much success with projects large and small. Consultation is a hallmark of the process. Read about three Section 106 success stories here.

 

 

Economic Impacts of Historic Preservation Study Released
A 2011 study commissioned by the ACHP, with funding assistance from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, identifies and analyzes methods for measuring the economic impacts of historic preservation. The report focuses on such economic indicators as jobs and household income, property values, heritage tourism, sustainable development, and downtown revitalization, and recommends ways to improve our understanding of how preservation activity supports economic vitality.
Read the full report here.
Read a brief compilation of related facts and figures here.

Section 3 Report to the President Now Available

The 2012 Report to the President on the federal government's stewardship of its historic properties is now available. The report can be downloaded here.

ACHP Chairman Honors Newest Community—Filipinotown, Los Angeles

ACHP Chairman Wayne Donaldson and community leaders celebrated the heritage of the newest Preserve America Community, Historic Filipinotown, in Los Angeles, California at a weekend event. Read more.

Economic Potential of Civil War Anniversary

The Civil War Sesquicentennial promises to have an economic impact on many communities, while building an important educational and tourism base for the future. NPS' Manassas (or Bull Run) National Battlefield in Prince William County, Virginia (a Preserve America Community) was the site of two major battles in 1861 and 1862. A local analysis of economic impacts from a series of public events and activities held over a three-day weekend in July 2011 to commemorate the First Battle of Manassas found that the City of Manassas increased its restaurant revenue by more than $800,000 compared to the previous July, which resulted in a 14 percent increase in the collected meals tax. About 55 percent more sales tax revenue for the month was generated in the city's Old Town historic area, as well as nearly 11 percent more lodging tax receipts. This was in spite of a heat wave that forced curtailment of some events and reduced overall visitor numbers. Read the full economic report.

Stacy Hoeflich Wins National History Teacher of the Year

NYC—ACHP Vice Chairman Clement Price, along with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and others, honored fourth grade history teacher Stacy Hoeflich, from Alexandria, Virginia’s John Adams Elementary School with the National History Teacher of the Year award Oct. 18. Read more.

2012 Section 106 training registration now open

From Anchorage to Atlanta, ACHP staff instructors will visit 11 cities nationwide next year to offer Section 106 training. Join us for interactive courses that feature practical guidance and opportunities to apply what you learn to case-based exercises. The Section 106 Essentials covers the regulatory fundamentals needed to carry out or participate in a federal historic preservation review, while the Advanced Seminar will help experienced practitioners improve consultation and agreement development skills. Register by December 14 and take advantage of the $450 early bird rate for Essentials. For more information and to register, click here.

New AIA/CES and AICP/CM continuing education opportunity

Planners and architects can now fulfill their continuing education requirements in part by attending ACHP Section 106 training. The ACHP’s Section 106 Essentials course has been approved to offer 12 CM credits to American Institute of Certified Planners members and 12 LUs for members of the American Institute of Architects. For more information or to register, visit the Section 106 Essentials page.

Developing a 21st Century Conservation Agenda - America's Great Outdoors Initiative report issued

On Feb. 16, President Obama unveiled the report titled "America's Great Outdoors: A Promise to Future Generations" at a White House ceremony. The ACHP was involved in development of the report and will play a role in its implementation to help weave cultural heritage and recognition for historic places into key parts of the program. Read more.

Preserve America Grants Awarded

National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis and ACHP Chairman Wayne Donaldson, today announced $1.3 million in Preserve America grants to 22 projects in 16 states. Read more.

Citizen's Guide to Section 106 New Edition Now Available

The ACHP is proud to announce it has updated and reissued Protecting Historic Properties: A Citizen’s Guide to Section 106. The Citizen’s Guide is a useful tool for learning how to protect historic places in your community.

Preserve America Grants Effectiveness Report Released

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has released a report to Congress on the preliminary assessment of the effectiveness of Preserve America Grants over the last four years. Read more.

Summit Progress Reports

Agencies have reported their continuous progress on the recommendations issued from the Preserve America Summit for enhancing and advancing the historic preservation program in the United States and abroad. Summit progress.